Skimm'd between two "Bachelor" episodes

"NSFW" – Elon Musk's tweet paired with a video of his 'striptease' during a new Tesla launch. Come for the tech, stay for the dance.

RETALIATION

The Story

Iran struck back at the United States.

Over the death of its commander?

Yes. Last week, President Trump ordered an attack in Baghdad that killed Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani, among others. The White House says Soleimani – responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans – had been plotting "imminent and sinister attacks" on US diplomats and military personnel. But Soleimani was revered in Iran, and the country promised "harsh retaliation" for his death. Yesterday, amid mourning and a deadly stampede, it delivered its response.

Which was...?

More than a dozen ballistic missiles targeting two Iraqi bases housing US troops. The first was the Asad air base in western Iraq – which houses about 1,500 US military members and coalition forces. Also targeted: the Erbil air base in northern Iraq, where the US launched the mission last year that killed ISIS's leader. So far, no American casualties have been reported. And Iraq says none of its troops were killed.

Does this mean war?

No...at least not yet. Trump said "all is well" given the lack of casualties so far – and will make a formal statement later this morning. And although Iran has threatened to take this fight to US allies like Israel and the UAE, Iran's foreign minister made clear last night that no further attacks were scheduled and that the country does "not seek escalation."

theSkimm

When the US killed the second most powerful person in Iran, the country promised retaliation. Now, it says it's "concluded" its response. With both countries implying they don't want to escalate any further, this moment could mark a turn away from war...or another blundering step toward it.

AND ALSO...THIS

What else Iran has on the mind...

This deadly plane crash. Yesterday, a plane bound for Ukraine crashed in Iran shortly after takeoff, killing all 176 people on board. Officials believe technical issues may have caused this, and say an investigation is underway. As of right now, the tragedy doesn't seem to be connected to US-Iranian tensions.

• Another Boeing crash: This was a Boeing plane – but an older model than the one grounded last year following two deadly crashes. A spokesperson said Boeing was aware of the media reports and gathering information.

What people are watching…

Australia. Wildfires there – started back in September – have now killed at least 25 people. Thousands of homes and millions of acres have been destroyed. And wildlife has been hit especially hard. Some estimate that a billion animals or more have been killed – including birds, reptiles, mammals, and thousands of koalas.

• The words on everyone's lips: climate change. Australia experiences fire seasons every year. But conditions have gotten worse as things like decreased rainfall and higher temperatures fuel the spread of fires. The last time wildfires were this bad was in 2009, when the Black Saturday fires killed 173 people.

• Sending help: Australia's PM Scott Morrison – who has faced criticism for how he's handled the crisis – says the gov will commit an extra $1.4 billion toward recovery. Others, including celebrities, have also donated – and used their platforms to encourage more donations.

PS: Here's how you can help with relief efforts.

What's taking ctrl of the situation…

Sonos. Yesterday, the speaker company sued Google, claiming it stole patented tech. Sonos says that when the two worked together in 2013 to incorporate Google's streaming music service into Sonos speakers, Google snatched the tech that lets wireless speakers sync and play in different rooms. Google disputes the claims. And says it's "disappointed" Sonos turned to a lawsuit over negotiating.

Facebook. Earlier this week, it confirmed that it will remove deepfakes (highly manipulated videos) from its platform. This is its latest attempt to curb the spread of misinformation before the 2020 election. But the policy wouldn't ban videos manipulated for parody or satirical purposes...and critics aren't a fan of the loopholes.

PS: GV (formerly Google Ventures) is a minority investor in theSkimm.

Who's making you paw-nder the label before purr-chasing…

Researchers at Cornell University. They reportedly warn that some CBD pet health products contain virtually no CBD. At least, not enough to have any therapeutic effects for pets. The FDA is still trying to figure out regulations around marketing CBD products, for pets and people. And although there's one FDA-approved CBD drug for kids, the agency hasn't confirmed any benefits in veterinary medicine.

Skimm More: Have questions about CBD? We have a guide for that.

What's got the Girl Scouts singing 'Level Up'...

New cookies.

SKIMM MONEY

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SKIMM'RS

A (Whar)ton of congrats to...Anjaly N (WI). She got accepted to her dream business school at UPenn. UDidit.

Up With theSkimm with...Olivia Landau. She's a trained gemologist who started "The Clear Cut" blog to share everything she knows about diamonds. Now, her side hustle is her full-time gig. She told us all about how she went from working at Tiffany & Co to running her own engagement ring and fine jewelry company. Watch here.

(Some) Birthdays...theSkimm's Anna Mazarakis (NY), Reuben Cohen (NY), Candace Arnold (IL), Madeline Tamagni (DC), Dylan Ottemiller (NM), Cristina Abreu (PR), Judi Laskodi (NJ), Arielle Purcell (CT), Danielle Hampy (FL), Mark Farber (FL), Anna Ashai (CA), Britt Bohrer (KS), Dawn Plumitallo (NY), Jocelyn Monahan (MD), Ashley Merzon (OK), Uma Sudarshan (MI)

*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.